Pompey Away: Two Good, Two Bad

A 3-1 loss wasn’t quite the result that we had hoped for when we set off for the not-so-sunny South Coast, and it’s brought a few people – including myself – back down to Earth. We’re just one of, as Darrell has said, quite a few teams who are in with a chance of promotion, and unfortunately the defeat at Pompey has seen us drop out of the play off places for the first time this year. It’s not all doom and gloom though, and I’ve looked at two good and two bad points from our defeat at Fratton Park.

Two Good

Mildenhall Is In Fantastic Form

Our revitalised shot-stopper has been playing very well recently, and kept the score reasonably respectable with some outstanding saves in both the first and second half. Will Puddy is in for a tough time if he thinks that he’ll just walk back into the team, and even though he’s not the long term solution to our goalkeeping situation, I’m glad Mildy’s back and I hope he keeps his place for the remainder of the season.

Promotion Isn’t Won Or Lost In February

There’s no two ways about it, the performance in our loss at Pompey wasn’t the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from a Darrell Clarke team – but luckily for us, promotion isn’t won or lost in February. We’re only one point behind seventh-placed Mansfield with a couple of games in hand, and we have a few winnable games in the coming weeks – plus important matches against Wycombe and Mansfield.

Two Bad

We Need Our Strikers Fit And Firing Again

Our attacking trio of Taylor, Gaffney and Easter are struggling for goals at the moment, and we really need them fit and firing if we’re going to get back to winning ways. I was surprised that Taylor didn’t start against Paul Cook’s side, as even though he isn’t in a rich vein of goal scoring form at the moment, he always offers something to the team. Hopefully Gaffney can return to the form that saw us sign him permanently after an impressive loan spell, because even though he hasn’t been scoring I don’t think he’s been playing particularly badly.

Lawrence Needs To Win Us Over

It’s not been the best of starts for the former Shrewsbury captain, as we haven’t actually won a game where he’s been involved. His performance in our defeat on the South Coast wasn’t what I’d expect from the former Irish international, and I wasn’t the only gashead who thought that he should have been replaced by Lines at half time. However, he’s got plenty of time to win us over, and a few good showings in the weeks ahead would do him the world of good.

Second year Sports Journalist at The University of Gloucestershire, blogger for the Bristol Post, writer for the Gloucestershire Citizen and Echo, BT Sport employee and most importantly season ticket holder for the Gas.